ASI caught taking Rs 20,000 bribe

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 18

Sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested an ASI, the driver of an assistant transport officer (ATO) of Punjab, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a truck cleaner. The bribe was demanded for releasing the documents of the truck, which were taken into possession by him on June 14. 

CBI officials said Punam Chand, a native of Bikaner, Rajasthan, had complained that on June 14, he, along with truck driver Ramdev, was heading towards Dhanas to deliver floor tiles to one of the vendors. On the way, the truck was intercepted near Mullanpur by an Innova from which a person wearing a police uniform and another one, who introduced himself as Bhupinder Singh and posed as the ATO, Punjab, alighted. Bhupinder, however, is an ASI with the Punjab Police and is posted as the driver of the ATO. He  took the original documents of the truck and issued a challan for overloading.

He alleged that Bhupinder demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 in lieu of releasing the documents. Bhupinder wrote his mobile number on the rear side of the challan and asked Punam Chand to call him after arranging the bribe money. Punam Chand then met him in Sector 23 on June 16 where he again demanded the bribe.

Punam Chand approached the CBI on June 17 and submitted a complaint following which CBI sleuths asked him to negotiate the bribe amount with the suspect. Sources said Bhupinder agreed to take Rs 20,000 and asked Punam  Chand to visit Sector 23 on June 18. 

CBI officials laid a trap and nabbed the suspect from his house while taking the bribe money. 

The CBI has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Bhupinder. The suspect will be produced in the court tomorrow. 

On record 

• Complainant – Hello sir, Punam Chand bol raha huin 
• Suspect – Hain boliye 
• Complainant – Sir permit de do, do chaar din se bahaut pareshan ho raha huin 
• Suspect – Paise hogaye arrange 
• Complainant – Aapne jo 20-25 ka bola hai na 
• Suspect – Hain 
• Complainant – Utna toh nahin hua abhi, 15 hue hain, abhi 5-10 koi aur lekar aa raha hai
• Suspect – 15 se nahin hoga 
• Complainant – To keetna loge 
• Suspect – 20,000 kam sae kam